Fearing Fines, Tv Station Pulls Saving Private Ryan

Television viewers expecting to see Tom Hanks on Thursday night wound up with Tom Cruise.

Fearing hefty fines from the Federal Communications Commission for airing a film loaded with violence and profanity, Palm Beach County's ABC affiliate pre-empted the showing of Saving Private Ryan.

"It was a collaborative decision made by the station, corporate managers and legal advisers," said Viki Regan, general manager of WPBF-Ch. 25, which is owned by Hearst-Argyle Television.

She cited "recent decisions by the FCC for what broadcast stations may and may not air prior to 10 p.m. local time."

Miami-Fort Lauderdale's WPLG-Ch. 10, which is carried on Adelphia cable in Palm Beach County, planned to air the film as scheduled. The ABC affiliate serving Sebastian and southern Brevard County, WFTV-Ch. 9, also declined to show Ryan.

"Given the current state of that law and lack of clarity for which standards apply prior to 10 o'clock, we were left in an untenable position," Regan said. "We gave this significant consideration."

The FCC has said that the broadcast of a particularly harsh four-letter word -- which is used repeatedly in Saving Private Ryan -- is inappropriate for over-the-air TV and radio. The film includes a violent depiction of the D-Day invasion and profanity.

WPBF had asked ABC in New York for permission to tape-delay the movie for a 10 p.m. start, but its request was denied, Regan said. "That would have placed it in a safe harbor."

The movie ran on ABC from 8-11:20 p.m. Thursday.

Regan said nine other Hearst-Argyle stations had planned to bump the movie. Collectively, about 20 ABC affiliates nationwide had decided to pre-empt the film. But despite its pre-emption, Regan termed Saving Private Ryan a "fitting tribute to those who served and have served" in the nation's armed services.

In place of Ryan, WPBF aired a half-hour local veterans' special at 8 p.m., where Regan was expected to address the local blackout of the movie.

Steven Spielberg's Oscar-winning Saving Private Ryan aired on ABC with relatively little controversy in 2001 and 2002 -- but that was before the uproar over Janet Jackson's Super Bowl halftime show on CBS on Feb. 1.

ABC's contract with director Spielberg stipulates that the film cannot be edited for broadcast.